Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Madagascar Palm (Lamerei)
Madagascar Palm is a succulent with a thick, silvery-gray trunk covered in sharp spines and a tuft of long, narrow leaves on top. That shape makes it look like a small palm tree. It grows slowly and can reach 8 feet or more outdoors. Mature plants bloom with large white flowers with yellow centers.
Best for: a bold accent in a large pot, patios with light afternoon shade, and a sculptural focal point.
Its silvery trunk and tuft of long leaves give it a palm-like shape. It makes a strong focal point by an entry or on a patio.
It is semi-tender in the Valley, so many people grow it in a large pot. A pot can move under cover on frost nights.
Once it reaches about 6 feet, it can bloom with large white flowers with yellow centers at the top of the trunk.
It is semi-tender, and its leaves drop with even light frost. The spines are sharp, and wet soil in winter can rot the roots.
Water regularly while it has leaves in the warm months, letting the soil drain well. Once it drops its leaves in winter, give it very little water.
It tends to lose its leaves and rest through a Valley winter. New leaves return at the top of the trunk in spring.
It is semi-tender in the Valley. Cover it on frost nights with frost cloth to the ground, not plastic, or grow it in a pot you can move.
The trunk is covered in sharp spines. Wear heavy gloves when you plant or move it.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Is a Madagascar palm a real palm?
No. It is a spiny succulent from Madagascar with leaves only at the top, which gives it a palm-like look.
How big does it get?
Outdoors it can reach 8 feet or more, and up to about 20 feet over many years. It grows slowly, and in a pot it stays much smaller.
Why is it dropping its leaves?
It tends to lose its leaves and rest in winter in the Valley. Give it very little water until new leaves appear in spring.
How cold can it take?
It is semi-tender and not frost hardy. Cover it on frost nights, or keep it in a pot you can move under cover.
Does it need full sun in Phoenix?
It grows in full sun to light shade. In the Valley, light shade from the afternoon sun is safest in summer.
How often should I water it?
Water regularly while it has leaves, letting the soil drain well. Give it very little water while it is leafless in winter.
Does it flower?
Yes, once it is mature, about 6 feet tall. The flowers are white with yellow centers and bloom at the top of the trunk.
Is it poisonous?
Yes. All parts carry a poisonous sap. The sharp spines usually keep pets and kids away, but keep them from chewing it.
How do I handle the spines?
The trunk is covered in sharp spines that grow in threes. Wear heavy gloves whenever you plant or move it.
Madagascar Palm (Lamerei) for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Madagascar Palm, Pachypodium lamerei, is a spiny succulent trunk with palm-like leaves on top. Below is what to expect on size, sun, water, winter leaf drop, frost, flowers and handling in a Valley yard.
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Madagascar palm in Phoenix
It grows in the Valley with light afternoon shade in summer. It is semi-tender, so cover it on frost nights or keep it in a pot.
Is a Madagascar palm a palm tree?
No. It is a spiny succulent from Madagascar that only looks like a palm.
Why is my Madagascar palm losing leaves?
It tends to drop its leaves and rest in winter. Cut back on water until new leaves appear in spring.
How big does Pachypodium lamerei get?
Outdoors it can reach 8 feet or more over many years. It grows slowly and stays smaller in a pot.
Watering Madagascar palm
Water regularly while it has leaves and very little while it is leafless in winter.
Is Madagascar palm poisonous?
Yes. All parts carry a poisonous sap, and the spines are sharp. Keep pets and kids from chewing it.
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